Blanchard Island Recreation Area

Closed — Closed for the season. Opens May 15 through October 15. Sites are first-come, first-served using the Scan & Pay system via Recreation.gov mobile app.

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Extreme Cold Watch issued January 21 at 2:46AM CST until January 24 at 12:00PM CST by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

2:46 AM — 11:00 AM

* WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, west winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. For the Extreme Cold Watch, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below possible. * WHERE...Portions of north central, northwest, and west central Illinois and east central Iowa. * WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, from 5 PM this afternoon to midnight CST tonight. For the Extreme Cold Watch, from late Thursday night through Saturday morning. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

Wind Advisory issued January 21 at 2:46AM CST until January 22 at 12:00AM CST by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

2:46 AM — 11:00 AM

About

Blanchard Island Recreation Area offers a backcountry camping experience along the Mississippi River's quiet backwaters. This Army Corps of Engineers campground is located about 2.5 miles down a gravel road from New Boston, Illinois, providing a secluded setting while maintaining essential amenities. The facility features 15 first-come, first-served campsites with no electric hookups, each equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. The campground is particularly popular with anglers and hunters. Fishermen find excellent catfishing opportunities both from shore and by boat, with easy access via the on-site boat ramp to Blanchard Chute and the main channel. Fall brings deer hunters who use the campground as a base for accessing Blanchard Island. Wildlife viewing is exceptional year-round, with regular sightings of bald eagles, pileated woodpeckers, ducks, deer, and occasionally muskrats or otters. Facilities include concrete vault toilets, potable water from multiple hydrants throughout the park, and a dump station for RV waste. The campground uses a Scan & Pay system requiring the Recreation.gov mobile app and credit card payment only. Dogs must be leashed, and quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. with no generator use during that time. The site limit is 6 people and 2 vehicles per campsite.

Directions

Located at 34000 176th Ave. W., New Boston, IL 61272. From Muscatine, IA, cross the Muscatine Bridge into Illinois and drive about 2 miles on Highway 92. Turn right onto 322nd St. W for about 4.5 miles, then turn right onto 176th Ave. W (gravel road). Follow the gravel road 2.5 miles to the levee, then go up and over the levee to enter the park.